Whatever happened to the summer LAB leadership contest which looked all set to be an annual fixture?
For the first time for years an August without active political betting markets
One of the things about running a website about political betting is that we need events on which we can risk our money. Summer is generally a quiet time particularly in August but over the past couple of years we have had the spectacle of a Labour leadership contest both of which were won by Mr Corbyn. In August 2016, as well, we were less than three months away from the US presidential election.
The summer of 2014 was in the run-up to the Scottish IndyRef which was a big turnover market.
Even though most PBers don’t actually bet the analysis of those that are risking their money add a lot to the discussions.
I must admit that I had thought before we knew the GE2017 outcome that Labour would now be involved in a contest. Alas no. and TMay, the person who lost most in the election, is still in there confounding those who said that the blue team were the most ruthless with leaders who fail.
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William Hague’s much quoted description of the Conservative party as being an absolute monarchy moderated by regicide does not seem to be applying this time.
There is betting on TMay’s replacement but at the moment there is no vacancy and it could be years before there is a contest.
It did look as though the Lib Dems we’re going to have a members’ election but that got spoilt by no other Lib Dem MP being ready to put themselves up against Vince Cable.
There is the UKIP leadership, I suppose, but the party is a fraction of its former self and if you are really interested there are betting markets.
The will Trump survive betting is available but what that makes that unattractive to punters is that you can get barely evens on either side and your stake could be locked up for three and a half years.